North End Church of Christ

By: Kerry G. Anderson, President–Gospel Advocate Co.

I see too many causes for concern in the church today. For instance, we have congregations (and individuals) who want to uphold the spirit of God’s commands, but ignore the specifics.

Other congregations ignore God’s instructions about the roles He has assigned each of us to carry out: women are asked to lead in public worship and teaching; and the role of the deacon is abolished so that people who do not meet the qualifications found in Scripture can be charged with those duties.

Most importantly, I even see some people compromising what God requires of us to become a Christian. They seem confused as to what answer should be given the question “What must I do to be saved?”

Let me give you a summary answer to that question: “Now when they heard this, they were pricked in their heart, and said unto Peter and to the rest of the apostles, Men and brethren, what shall we do? Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized everyone one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost. For the promise is unto you, and to your children, and to all that are afar off, even as many as the Lord our God shall call.” (Acts 2:37-39 KJV)

I believe the Bible teaches that a point exists at which we move from the darkness of sin to the light of forgiveness. That point cannot be reached without the undeserved offer of God’s grace and without our placing faith in His redeeming work through Jesus. We are forgiven of our sins, although we do not merit it, when we are baptized.

I see far too many people within the Lord’s church adopting Naaman’s attitude (2 Kings 5:11,12). They decide that God’s plan doesn’t meet their expectations. Instead we need the attitude of Naaman’s servants: “If the prophet had told you to do something great, would you not have done it? How much more then, when he says to you, ‘Wash, and be clean’?” (2 Kings 5:13 NKJV)

Only when Naaman submitted to God’s plan was he cleansed. The same principle is true for us.